GB2476805A

GB2476805A - Apparatus and Method for Providing Information using Tag Reader

Info

Publication number: GB2476805A
Application number: GB1000218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Tate; Peter Lounton; David Graham; Neill Mennell
Original assignee: AUDIOTAG SYSTEM Ltd
Current assignee: AUDIOTAG SYSTEM Ltd
Priority date: 2010-01-07
Filing date: 2010-01-07
Publication date: 2011-07-13
Also published as: GB201000218D0

Abstract

A user device 12 for providing information about an item 22, comprising a media output device (such as a screen or speaker) 30 and a data tag reader 28 for reading data tag 20 relating to the item to determine the information. The user device provides the information via the media output device to a user 14. The user device may include a local or remote database 16 containing the information. The user device may also include means for generating a speech data file from the information that may be output via the media output device. Also disclosed is a server apparatus 17 for providing information about the item to the user device comprising a database 16 to receive said information from a third party entity 36 having an association with the item. The server apparatus has a data transfer arrangement 18, 34 for providing the information to the user device.

Description

Apparatus and Methods for Providing Information

Technical Field

The invention relates to apparatus and methods for proving information, and in particular for providing information about an item.

Background

It is known to provide a laser scanner device at a supermarket checkout counter for reading barcodes on food products. The scanner is typically positioned for an employee of the supermarket to scan the food products so that they are automatically entered onto a bill for a customer to pay. Such an apparatus is a useful device for managing the smooth operation of the supermarket and for ordering new food products to stock shelves in the supermarket.

It is also known to provide a hand-held laser scanner device for reading barcodes on items for sale on a shop floor. Such a scanner device may be used by an employee of the shop for performing a stock taking exercise. The employee typically points the scanner at the barcode and the device registers a count of the item in a register within the scanner. Such an apparatus is useful for managing the process of stock taking which may typically be performed on weekly or monthly basis.

When a customer is in a shop looking at items for sale they may read information about the items in the shop to evaluate them. The information is typically written on packaging of the item, or in a sales brochure produced by the shop. Alternatively, in the case of a more complex or higher value item, the customer may speak to a shop assistant about the item to find out more information. Such a way of evaluating the item has problems from the perspective of the customer andlor the shop owner. The customer may not read the relevant information about the item, or may not ask the relevant questions to the shop assistant. The shop owner is not sure that the customer has been provided with the relevant information about the item, or has received the correct information about the item from the shop assistant. These problems may be made worse if the customer is visually impaired, or completely blind, or is infirm, or has a disability such as dyslexia, or a learning disability, or a physical disability, or is otherwise unable to read, or is unable to read a particular language.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to address one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages of previously known arrargements.

Summary

What is required is a way of readily permitting information about an item to be provided to a user, which may reduce or minimise at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a user device for providing information about an item, comprising a media output device and a data tag reader operable to read a data tag relating to an item to determine said information, the user device arranged to provide the information via the media output device.

Such an apparatus permits a person to readily find out relevant information relating to the item. Whereas the known scanning devices are intended for use solely by an employee of a supermarket or a shop for the purpose of management operations, the apparatus of the first aspect may be used by a customer of the shop or by a recipient of the item. It has been realised that such a device may be extremely useful to people who are visually impaired, or completely blind, or infirm, or have a disability such as dyslexia, or have a learning disability, or a physical disability, or are otherwise unable to read, or unable to read a particular language. The apparatus permits such people to obtain information about items in a much improved manner. Such items may be an item of food, or a product for sale such as a household article, or a packet or container of drugs, or a document such as a letter from an authority, or a bank statement, or a menu for a restaurant.

Preferably the user device further includes a database containing the information. The database may be a remote database located off the user device. The user device may be provided in communication with the remote database via a communications link. The provision of a database is a useful feature because it is a Convenient way to organise the management of data for the user device.

Preferably the data tag comprises an identification code relating to the item, and the database comprises a look-up table associating the identification code with the information, the user device being configured to read the identification code to determine the information from the database.

In one embodiment, where the database is located at the user device, the user device is operable to periodically update the database with the information via a data storage media, or a data file transfer operation. Such updating is a useful way of obtaining the most recent information relating to the item.

Preferably the user device further includes a validation arrangement to determine whether the information relating to the item is valid. Preferably the database further comprises a validation association to identify whether the information relating to the item is valid. The provision of such validation arrangements allows a failsafe way to check if the information relating to the item is correct, andlor up to date.

Preferably the user device further includes an audio file generator device for generating a speech data file from the information. Preferably the speech data file is arranged to be stored in the database. Preferably the media output device comprises an audio device for playback of the speech data file. Such arrangements are extremely useful to people who are visually impaired, or completely blind, or infirm, or have a disability such as dyslexia, or have a learning disability, or a physical disability, or are otherwise unable to read, or unable to read a particular language.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a server apparatus for providing information about an item to a user device, comprising a database to receive said information from a third party entity having an association with the item, the server device having a data transfer arrangement for providing the information to the user device.

Such an apparatus permits a person having a user device to readily find out relevant information relating to the item. Such a device may be extremely useful to people who are visually impaired, or completely blind, or infirm, or have a disability such as dyslexia, or have a learning disability, or a physical disability, or are otherwise unable to read, or unable to read a particular language. The apparatus permits such people to obtain information about items in a much improved manner.

Preferably the database comprises a look-up table associating the information with an identification code relating to the item.

In one embodiment the data transfer arrangement comprises a data storage media for providing the information to the user device. n another embodiment the data transfer arrangement comprises a data file transfer process arranged to operate via a communications link with the user device.

In one embodiment the server apparatus is arranged to provide the information to the user device via the communications link upon request by the user device.

Preferably the server apparatus further includes a validation arrangement to determine whether the information relating to the item is valid. Preferably the validation arrangement comprises a validation association in the look-up table to identify whether the information relating to the item is valid. The provision of such validation arrangements allows a failsafe way to check if the information relating to the item is correct, andlor up to date.

Preferably the server apparatus further includes an audio file generator device for generating a speech data file from the information. Preferably the speech data file is arranged to be stored in the database.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing information about an item with a user device having a media output device and a data to tag reader, the method including: reading a data tag relating to the item using the data tag reader, determining said information, and providing the information to a user of the user device via the media output device.

Such a method permits a person to readily find out relevant information relating to the item. Whereas the known scanning devices are intended for use solely by an employee of a supermarket or a shop for the purpose of management operations, the method of the third aspect may be used by a customer of the shop or by a recipient of the item. It has been realised that such a device may be extremely useful to people who are visually impaired, or completely blind, or infirm, or have a disability such as dyslexia, or have a learning disability, or a physical disability, or are otherwise unable to read, or unable to read a particular language. The apparatus permits such people to obtain information about items in a much improved manner.

Preferably the method further includes determining the information from a database.

The method may further including determining the information via a communications link with the database. In this arrangement the database may be a remote database located away from the user device. The provision of a database is a useful feature because it is a convenient way to organise the management of data for the user device.

Preferably the data tag comprises an identification code relating to the item, and the database comprises a look-up table associating the identification code with the information, the method including reading the identification code with the user device, and determining the information from the database using the identification code.

Preferably the method further includes periodically updating the database with the information via a data storage media, or a data file transfer operation. Such updating is a useful way of obtaining the most recent information relating to the item.

Preferably the method further includes validating the information relating to the item prior to providing it to the user of the user device. Preferably the method further includes validating the information using a validation association of the database. The provision of such validation arrangements allows a failsafe way to check if the information relating to the item is correct, andlor up to date.

Preferably the method further includes generating a speech data file from the information. Preferably the method further includes storing the speech data file in the database. Preferably the method further includes playing the speech data file to the user.

Such arrangements are extremely useful to people who are visually impaired, or completely blind, or infirm, or have a disability such as dyslexia, or have a learning disability, or a physical disability, or are otherwise unable to read, or unable to read a particular language.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing information about an item to a user device using a server apparatus having a database and a data transfer arrangement, the method including: receiving said information from a third party entity having an association with the item, and transferring the information to the user device.

Such a method permits a person having a user device to readily find out relevant information relating to the item. Such a device may be extremely useful to people who are visually impaired, or completely blind, or infirm, or have a disability such as dyslexia, or have a learning disability, or a physical disability, or are otherwise unable to read, or unable to read a particular language. The apparatus permits such people to obtain information about items in a much improved manner.

Preferably the method further includes associating the information in the database with an identification code of the item.

Preferably said transferring comprises using a data storage media, or a data file transfer operation via a communications link with the user device.

In one embodiment the method further includes transferring the information to the user device via the communications link upon request by the user device.

Preferably the method further includes validating the information relating to the item prior to transferring it to the user device. Preferably the method further includes validating the information using a validation association of the database. The provision of such validation arrangements allows a failsafe way to check if the information relating to the item is correct, andlor up to date.

Preferably the method further includes generating a speech data file from the information. Preferably the method further includes storing the speech data file in the database. Preferably the method further includes transferring the speech data file to the user device.

In one embodiment the method includes said transferring of the information to the user device a local server which is in communication with the user device.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product operable to perform the method of the third or fourth aspects of the invention, or operable to control the apparatus of the first or second aspects of the invention.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for providing information about an item to a user, comprising a user device and a server apparatus, the apparatus having a database to receive said information from a third party entity having an association with the item, the user device comprising a media output device and a data tag reader, wherein the user device is operable to read a data tag relating to the item, obtain the information relating to the item from the database, and provide the information to the user via the media output device.

Features of one aspect of the invention may be used with other aspects of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments shown by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a database table according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a scanner device 12 for use by a user 14. The scanner device 12 may be termed a user device 12. The scanner device 12 may be in communication with a database 16 in a remote server 17 as shown by a two-way arrow 18 which may be a communications link such as a telecommunications link. The database 16 may alternatively be termed a remote database because it is located away from the scanner device 12 in the remote server 17.

The scanner device 12 is operable to scan or otherwise read a data tag 20 located on an item 22 as indicated by the arrow 24 from the scanner device 12 to the item 22. The data tag 20 contains information about the item 22, or a serial number, or identification code, or other static code which allows the scanner device 12 to find out and/or provide information about the item 22 to the user 14. The data tag 20 may be a one or two dimensional bar code, or a three dimensional bar code such as a holographic image. In one embodiment the data tag 20 is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The item 22 may be any item about which the user 14 may wish to find out information. For example, the item 22 may be an item of food, or a product for sale such as a household article, or a packet or container of drugs, or a document such as a letter from an authority, or a bank statement, or a menu for a restaurant.

The scanner device 12 has a memory 26, a data tag reader 28, and a media output device 30. The scanner device 12 may be implemented as a stand-alone device such as a personal computer, or a hand-held device such as a mobile communications device or a laptop or other user-portable device. In one embodiment the scanner device 12 is an electronic handheld information device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), which is programmed with a software application to operate in the manner described.

The data tag reader 28 may be integrated within the scanner device 12 or may be separate from the scanner device 12 and connected to it via a wire or a wireless connection. In the case of a wire connection, the data tag reader 28 may be connected to the scanner device 12 via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. In the case of a wireless connection, the data tag reader 28 may be connected to the scanner device 12 via a Bluetooth protocol connection, or other short-range wireless protocol. The data tag reader 28 may be a laser scanner, or an RFID reader, and in one embodiment the data tag reader 28 is a camera device which is operable to capture an image of the data tag 20. Such a PDA has a communications link to the remote database 16 indicated by the two-way arrow 18. After scanning the item 22 the PDA then outputs a description of the item 22 from a loudspeaker or a screen of the PDA. The media output device 30 may provide information to the user about the item 22 in the form of a text message, a sound recording, a voice recording, an image, and/or a series of images such a video.

The media output device 30 may comprise an audio device such as a loudspeaker, an earpiece operable with a wireless connection protocol such as Bluetooth, and/or a display screen to provide an audio, textual and/or visual description of the item 22. The media output device 30 is operable to receive information about the item 22 from the database 16 and provide it to the user 14 shown by an arrow 32. Such receiving of information may be via the communications link with the database 16, indicated by the two-way arrow 18, and/or from the memory 26 of the scanner device 12. In one embodiment the memory 26 is updated periodically from a data storage media such as a USB memory stick, a Compact Disc (CD), or Digital Video Disc (DVD) 34 which is produced from data contained in the database 16 and sent to the user 14, or other organisation operating the scaimer device 12, to load onto the scanner device 12. In another embodiment the memory 26 is updated periodically with data, for example via electronic file transfer sent by email sent via the communications link indicated by the two-way arrow 18. It will be appreciated that in one embodiment the memory 26 may comprise the database 16.

The database 16 is updated with information relating to the item 22 by the server 17.

The server 17 is provided with the updated information by a third party entity 36, as shown by an arrow at 38. Queries may also be sent from the server 17 to the third party entity 36 as shown by the arrow 38. The third party entity 36 is a central organisation which is associated with the item 22 and which can provide a description of the item 22 to the server 17 for input into the database 16. The third party entity may be a retailer, a pharmaceutical company, a doctor's surgery, a bank, a local council authority, or a restaurant.

The server 17 may have overall operational control of the apparatus 10. When the server 17 receives information about the item 22 from the third party entity 36, such as a text description about the item 22, it may convert the text description into a voice description using an audio file generator device 42. The audio file generator device 42 operates to convert text into a voice recording using speech generation software. The speech generation software may also be operable to modify the text descriptions to phonetically adjust the voice recording, for example the words "Gloucester Hotel Menu", may be changed to "Glosster Hotel Menu" to provide the correct pronunciation of the description of the item 22. The voice recording is then stored in the database 16.

It will be appreciated that whereas one item 22 is shown, the overall apparatus 10 is operable with many items 22 which may be of different types. The database 16 contains descriptions of the items 22 and information about their associated data tag 20. The server 17 also has an assigner device 44 which is operable to assign a particular data tag to a particular item 22 and store the assignation in the database 16. For example, the assigner device 44 may be operable to assign a particular bar code to a particular product.

The server 17 also permits the third party entity 36 to validate the data in the database 16 relating to the item 22 before it is allowed to be used by the scanner device 12. This functionality may be provided by a validation device 46 of the server 17, which is operable to transmit the data back to the third party entity 36 and receive a reply from the third party entity 36 relating to the data. If the reply confirms that the data in the database 16 is correct and that no further changes are required, the validation device 46 permits the data to be used by the scanner device 12. Such permission may be provided by a checkbox in the database 16 indicating that the data relating to a particular item 22 is ready to be released for use by the scanner device 12. Such functionality may be known as a validation arrangement. This may be a particularly useful feature it the item 22 is safety critical in some way, such as a packet of drugs, or when the user 14 has a nut allergy and requires verification that a particular item of food does not contain nuts.

Such an arrangement also permits updates of the data in the database 16 to be handled in a more reliable way because when an update is required the checkbox may be set to indicate that the data about a particular item is not valid. Once the new data has been received by the server 17 and verified by the third party entity 36, the checkbox in the database 16 can be set to indicate that the data is valid again and ready to be used by the scanner device 12. Such an arrangement is shown in more detail in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a database table according to an embodiment of the invention, generally designated 50. The database table 50 has three colunms which comprise a data tag column 52, a data file location colunm 54, and a data valid column 56. The data tag column 52 includes entries which correspond to the data tag 20 on the item 22. The data file location column 54 provides a location of where to find information relating to the item 22. The data valid column 56 shows a yes/no checkbox indicating whether the validation device 46 of the server 17 has received confirmation from the third party entity 36 that the data in the data file is valid or not. Such an arrangement may be termed a validation association. The database table 50 may be part of the database 16 or in communication with it. The database table 50 is a look-up table which contains an association of entries corresponding to the data tag 20 with information relating to the item 22. Whereas the database table 50 and look-up table have been described, it will be appreciated that any such arrangement may be used which provides the functionality of allowing the data relating to the item 22 to be validated.

In one embodiment the communications link represented by the two way arrow 18 is an Internet connection, and the scanner device 12 receives data from the database 16 via a web browser. The web browser is a software application loaded onto the scanner device 12 for retrieving and providing the information to the user 14, and in this embodiment the media output device 30 may be the web browser. Such a way of retrieving the data from the database 16 may require a relatively good Internet connection, and the data downloaded from the database 16 may include audio files andlor images.

In another embodiment the scanner device 12 is a static device not intended to be portable by the user 14. Such a device may be a kiosk at a train station, or a bus stop, or a similar location, or a device on a counter in a shop such as a chemist shop. Such a device may be used where an Internet connection is relatively poor. With such an arrangement the scanner device 12 may make a query to the database 16, but the server 17 delivers data in the form of text to the scanner device 12, which may be converted locally at the scanner device 12 into a voice data file by an audio file generator device of the scanner device 12. The voice data file may then be replayed to the user 14 by the media output device 30.

In another embodiment the scanner device 12 has no connection to the Internet, and the CD/DVD 34 is sent to the user 14 on a periodic basis, such as weekly or monthly via a subscription service. The CD/DVD 34 contains a complete dataset or updates to the dataset for use on the scanner device 12 which may be a local Personal Computer (PC) typically be located in the home. Once the data on the CDIDVD 34 is loaded onto the PC the user 14 may use the scanner device 12 to identif' or find out information about the item 22.

In another embodiment the apparatus 10 comprises a local or client network which may be under the control of an organisation such as a supermarket chain. The database 16 in the server 17 may be populated with items by the supermarket chain, and the scanner device 12 may be owned by the supermarket so that a user 14 can pick up the scanner device 12 upon entry to the supermarket. The scanner device 12 may be part of a shopping trolley of the supermarket. Such an apparatus permits the organisation to provide their product information over a local network to their own scanner devices 12.

In one embodiment the CD/DVD 34 is delivered to the supermarket, or to several supermarkets for loading onto a local server 47 of the supermarket. The scanner device 12 may then communicate with the local server 47 over a wireless link indicated by the two way arrow 48.

It will be appreciated that in all embodiments the scanner device 12 has a processor device for coordinating the interaction of the scanner device 12 with the memory 26, the data tag reader 28, the media output device 30, the audio file generator device 45, the remote server 17, andlor the local server 47.

In use the apparatus 10 may be employed in a variety of different situations. A customer in a shop or supermarket may require information about a particular item 22 which may be an item of food, or a product for sale such as a household article. In this situation the user 14 points or otherwise moves the scanner device 12 so that the data tag scanner 28 is able to read the data tag 20. The user 14 may need to activate the scanner device 12 to read the data tag 20 such as by capturing a photograph of the item 22. The scanner device 12 then reads data from the database 16 in the server 17 via the communications link indicated by the arrow 18, or reads data from the memory 26 of the scanner device 12. The data or information is then provided to the user 14 which may be in the form of a text message, a sound recording, a voice recording, an image, and/or a series of images such as a video. Such an apparatus provides the advantages that the user 14 is able to find out relevant information about the item, which may be in a format which is readily understandable by the user 14. In the case where the item 22 is a food product the user 14 may be able to find out if the food contains nuts.

In the case where the item 22 is a drug or medication for use by the user 14, the drug Jo manufacturer or retailer may have a Duty of Care obligation or other legal requirement to provide information about the drug to the user 14 under the local law. The apparatus may be used to provide information about the item 22 to satisfy such Duty of Care obligations or other legal requirements. In such an application the user 14 is able to find out information about the drugs or medication prior to taking them, and the drug manufacturer or retailer may be able to discharge their legal obligation to provide information about the drug using the apparatus.

Further examples of various applications for using the apparatus 10 are where the item 22 is a document such as a letter from an authority, or a bank statement, or a menu for a restaurant, or a bus timetable. In this situation the user 14 is able to find out information about the document. If the document is a bank statement the third party entity 36 may be a bank and the data tag 20 may be associated with a particular user 14. The bank may send information relating to the bank statement to the database 16 or memory 26 which can be readily accessed by the user 14 using the scanner device 12. The information relating to the bank statement may be periodically updated by the bank, for example, every month when a bank statement is sent to the user 14.

From the perspective of the third party entity 36, the apparatus 10 has the advantage that the third party entity 36 is provided with greater certainty that the user 14 has been provided with the relevant information about the item 22 instead of incomplete information that may be read by the user 14 on packaging of the item 14 and/or provided to them by a shop assistant. From the perspective of the user 14, the apparatus has the advantage that the user 14 is provide with relevant information about the item 22, and/or has received the correct information about the item.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus may find a general application to the user 14 who is able bodied and/or not disabled and who requires to find out information about the item 22. The apparatus may also find a particular use in the case of a person 14 who is visually impaired, or completely blind, or is infirm, or has a disability such as dyslexia, or a learning disability, or a physical disability, or is otherwise unable to read, or is unable to read a particular language. It has been discovered that whereas blind or partially sighted people may learn to read braille only 1% of registered blind people in the UK are able to read it. The apparatus 10 provides the advantage of being able to dramatically improve such people's quality of life by providing information about the item 22 in an audio format in the form of speech.

Figure 3 shows a diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 60. The method 60 relates to providing information about an item 22 with a user device, also known as a scanner device 12, having a media output device 30 and a data tag reader 28. The method 60 includes reading a data tag 20 relating to the item using the data tag reader, as shown at 62. The method includes determining said information as shown at 64. The method includes providing the information to a user 14 of the user device 12 via the media output device 30.

The method further includes determining 64 the information from a database 26. The method further including determining 64 the information via a communications link 18 with the database 16. The data tag 20 comprises an identification code 52 relating to the item 22, and the database 16, 26 comprises a look-up table 50 associating the identification code 52 with the information, the method including reading 62 the identification code 52 with the user device 12, and determining 64 the information from the database 16, 26 using the identification code 52.

The method further includes periodically updating the database 16, 26 with the information via a data storage media 34, or a data file transfer operation 18, as shown at 68. The method further includes validating the information relating to the item 22 prior to providing it to the user 14 of the user device 12, as shown at 70. The method further includes validating 70 the information using a validation association of the database 16, 26.

The method further includes generating a speech data file from the information, as shown at 72. The method further includes storing the speech data file in the database 16, 26. The method further includes playing the speech data file to the user 14, as shown at 74.

Figure 4 shows a diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 80. The method 80 relates to providing information about an item 22 to a user device also known as a scanner device 12, using a server apparatus, also known as a remote server 17, the server apparatus having a database 16 and a data transfer arrangement 18, 34. The method 80 including receiving said information from a third party entity 36 having an association with the item 22, as shown at 82. The method including transferring the information to the user device 12, as shown at 84.

The method further includes associating the information in the database with an identification code of the item, as shown at 86. The method further includes said transferring 84 comprising using a data storage media 34, or a data file transfer via a communications link 18 with the user device 12. The method further includes transferring 84 the information to the user device 12 via the communications link 18 upon request by the user device 12. The method further includes validating the information relating to the item prior to transferring it to the user device, as shown at 88. The method further includes validating 88 the information using a validation association of the database 16.

The method further includes generating a speech data file from the information, as shown at 90. The method further includes storing the speech data file in the database 16.

The method further includes transferring 84 the speech data file to the user device 12.

The method further includes said transferring 84 of the information to the user device 12 via a local server 47 which is in communication with the user device 12.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a computer program product operable to perform a method shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4, or operable to control the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

In one embodiment, in the case that the data tag 20 is a three dimensional bar code or a holographic image, such a data tag 20 may be able to contain a relatively large amount of data about the item 22 when compared to the one or two dimension bar codes. The relatively large amount of data may be read directly by the scanner device 12 and provided to the user 14 without the need for the communications link 18, or the data storage media 34. Such a three dimensional bar code or a holographic image may be termed as a data-rich data tag 20.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A user device for providing information about an item, comprising a media output device and a data tag reader operable to read a data tag relating to an item to determine said information, the user device arranged to provide the information via the media output device.
2. A user device according to claim 1, and further including a database containing the information.
3. A user device according to claim 2, wherein the database is a remote database.
4. A user device according to claim 3, and further provide in communication with the remote database via a communications link.
5. A user device according to any of claims 2 -4, wherein the data tag comprises an identification code relating to the item, and the database comprises a look-up table associating the identification code with the information, the user device being configured to read the identification code to determine the information from the database.
6. A user device according to claims 2 or 5, operable to periodically update the database with the information via a data storage media, or a data file transfer operation.
7. A user device according to any preceding claim, and further including a validation arrangement to determine whether the information relating to the item is valid.
8. A user device according to claim 7 when appended to any of claims 2 -6, wherein the database further comprises a validation association to identify whether the information relating to the item is valid.
9. A user device according to any preceding claim, and further including an audio file generator device for generating a speech data file from the information.
10. A user device according to claim 9 when appended to any of claims 2 -8, wherein the speech data file is arranged to be stored in the database.
11. A user device according to claim 10, wherein the media output device comprises an audio device for playback of the speech data file.
12. A user device as substantially described herein with reference to Figures 1 -4 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A server apparatus for providing information about an item to a user device, comprising a database to receive said information from a third party entity having an association with the item, the server device having a data transfer arrangement for providing the information to the user device.
14. A server apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the database comprises a look-up table associating the information with an identification code relating to the item.
15. A server apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the data transfer arrangement comprises a data storage media for providing the information to the user device.
16. A server apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the data transfer arrangement comprises a data file transfer process arranged to operate via a communications link with the user device.
17. A server apparatus according to claim 16, arranged to provide the information to the user device via the communications link upon request by the user device.
18. A server apparatus according to any of claims 13 -17, and further including a validation arrangement to determine whether the information relating to the item is valid.
19. A server apparatus device according to claim 18, when appended to claim 14, wherein the validation arrangement comprises a validation association in the look-up table to identify whether the information relating to the item is valid.
20. A server apparatus according to any of claims 13 -19, and further including an audio file generator device for generating a speech data file from the information.
21. A server apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the speech data file is arranged to be stored in the database.
22. A server apparatus as substantially described herein with reference to Figures 1 -4 of the accompanying drawings.
23. A method of providing information about an item with a user device having a media output device and a data tag reader, the method including: reading a data tag relating to the item using the data tag reader, determining said information, and providing the information to a user of the user device via the media output device.
24. A method according to claim 23, and further including determining the information from a database.
25. A method according to claim 24, and further including determining the information via a Communications link with the database.
26. A method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the data tag comprises an identification code relating to the item, and the database comprises a look-up table associating the identification code with the information, the method including reading the identification code with the user device, and detennining the information from the database using the identification code.
2'?. A method according to any of claims 24 -26, and further including periodically updating the database with the information via a data storage media, or a data file transfer operation.
28. A method according to any of claims 23 -27, and further including validating the information relating to the item prior to providing it to the user of the user device.
29. A method according to claim 28 when appended to any of claims 24 -27, and further including validating the information using a validation association of the database.
30. A method according to any of claims 23 -29, and further including generating a speech data file from the information.
31. A method according to claim 30, when appended to any of claims 2 -29, and further including storing the speech data file in the database.
32. A method according to claim 30 or 31, arid further including playing the speech data file to the user.
33. A method as substantially described herein with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
34. A method of providing information about an item to a user device using a server apparatus having a database and a data transfer arrangement, the method including: receiving said information from a third party entity having an association with the item, and transferring the information to the user device.
35. A method according to claim 34, and further including associating the information in the database with an identification code of the item.
36. A method according to claim 34 or 35, wherein said transferring comprises using a data storage media, or a data file transfer operation via a communications link with the user device.
37. A method according to claim 36, and further including transferring the information to the user device via the communications link upon request by the user device.
38. A method according to any of claims 34 -37, and further including validating the information relating to the item prior to transferring it to the user device.
39. A method according to claim 38, and further including validating the information using a validation association of the database.
40. A method according to any of claims 34 -39, and further including generating a speech data file from the information.
41. A method according to claim 40, and further including storing the speech data file in the database.
42. A method according to claim 41, and further including transferring the speech data file to the user device.
43. A method according to any of claims 34 -42, wherein said transferring of the information to the user device includes transferring the information via a local server which is in communication with the user device.
44. A method as substantially described herein with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
45. A computer program product operable to perform the method of any of claim 23 -33 or 34 -44, or operable to control the apparatus according to any of claims 1 -22.